Rianne Malixi falls six shots behind in Melbourne

Rianne Malixi —CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Rianne Malixi failed to recover from a disastrous start in tough conditions and hobbled with a five-over 78 at Yarra Yarra Golf Club, slipping from joint second to a share of 13th halfway through the rain-hit Australian Amateur jointly led by Aina Fujimoto and Amelia Harris in Victoria on Wednesday.

Malixi, who had shown promise with a 70 at Keysborough on Tuesday, reeled on a bogey-double bogey-bogey sequence from No. 10 where she teed off and her stumble at the finish at the front nine undid any momentum she had in the middle of her round.

After the weather delay, the ICTSI-backed shotmaker birdied the 13th but missed several birdie opportunities before yielding a stroke on the first hole. She pitched in for eagle on the sixth but faced challenges in the next two holes, ultimately finishing with a 38-40.

READ: Rianne Malixi closes out strong to reign in Melbourne

With a two-over 148 aggregate at the two par-73 courses, the 16-year-old, coming off a victory in the Australian Master of the Amateurs last week, now trails the leaders by six.

Harris fired a 72 at the Keysborough Golf Club and earned a share of the lead at 142 with Fujimoto, who holed out with an eagle on the par-5 ninth, also at Yarra Yarra, to save a 73.

The duo took a one-stroke lead over another local entry Amelia Whinney, who pooled a 143 after a 72 at Yarra Yarra, while Aussie Sarah Hammett matched par 73 at Keysborough to tie a skidding Mamika Shinchi at fourth at 145. The Japanese also stumbled with a 75 at Yarra Yarra.